News & Messages

Installation of Chancellor Carol Folt

On Saturday, October 12, our University will celebrate 220 years of public higher education in America. University Day honors our heritage as the nation’s first state university by commemorating the 1793 placing of the cornerstone of Old East. This year’s celebration is even more meaningful because we will install Dr. Carol Folt as Carolina’s 11th chancellor.

The ceremony begins at 2 p.m. in Polk Place, on the steps of South Building, with a processional of faculty, students, staff, alumni, visiting dignitaries and other leaders beginning at 1:30 p.m. During the
ceremony, our new chancellor will deliver an address about her vision for our great University.

This is one of the most important days of the year at Carolina, and the installation of Chancellor Folt affirms that Carolina is well positioned to meet the challenges of higher education in the 21st century. I hope everyone in the Carolina community will attend this historic ceremony and show their support for our new chancellor.

The University also will present Distinguished Alumna and Alumnus Awards to Stuart Bondurant, William Easterling III, Karol Mason, Todd Miller and Gary Parr. In addition, Bruce Cairns, professor of surgery at Carolina, will receive the Edward Kidder Graham Faculty Service Award. Following the ceremony, there will be a reception in Polk Place. If rain is forecast, the ceremony will be moved to the Dean E. Smith Center.

While the University Day ceremony is the centerpiece of Chancellor Folt’s installation, events to mark the occasion begin Thursday evening with a lecture on Carolina¹s history by faculty member James Leloudis. On Friday, three panel discussions on innovation, water and the future of the U.S. public research university will be held in the afternoon, followed by a concert that evening curated by Carolina Performing Arts. And on Sunday afternoon, Folt Fest, the official student-only celebration to welcome Chancellor Folt to Carolina, will be held on Polk Place.